f.fs ;  -7  o 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OF  ENTOMOLOGY— CIRCULAR  No.  170. 

L.  O.  HOWARD.  Hi  In Iniiil  and  Chi<-(  o(  Bureau. 


THE  FOWL  TICK. 


nv 


F.  C.  BISHOFP, 

Entomological  Aisitl 


.  -13 


i  OFFICE  :  1111 


r 


BUREAU   OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 

L.  O.  Howard,  Entomologist  and  Chief  of  Bureau. 

C.  L.  Mablatt,  Entomologist  and  Acting  Chief  in  Absence  of  Chief. 

R.  S.  Clifton,  Executive  Assistant. 

W.  F.  Tastet,  Chief  Clerk. 

F.  H.  Chittenden,  in  charge  of  truck  crop  and  stored  product  insect  investigations. 

A.  D.  Hopkins,  in  charge  of  forest  insect  investigations. 

W.  I>.  Huntlr,  in  charge  of  southern  field  crop  insect  investigations. 

F.  M.  Webster,  in  charge  <,f  cereal  and  forage  insect  investigations. 

A.  L.  Quaintance.  in  charge  of  deciduous  fruit  insect  investigations. 

E.  F.  Phillips,  in  charge  of  lice  culture. 

I).  M.  Rogers,  in  charge  of  preventing  spread  of  moths,  field  work. 
Rolla  P.  Currie.  In  charge  of  editorial  work. 
Mabel  Colcord,  in  charge  of  library. 

Southern  Field  Chop  [nsect  Investigations. 

W.  I>.  Hunter,  in  charge. 

W.  I>.  Pierce,  J.  D.  Mitchell.  G.  I).  Smith.  B.  A.  McGregor.  Harry  Pinkus, 

IS.    It.    C'OAD,    G.    X.    WOLCOTT,    W.    A.    THOMAS,    It.    W.    MORELAND.    C.    E.    HESTER, 

engaged  in  cotton-boll  weevil  investigations. 
A.  ('.  Morgan.  G.  A.  Runner,  S.  E.  Crumb,  D.  C.  Parman.  engaged  in  tobacco 
insect  investigation. 

F.  C.  Hishopp.  A.  H.  Jennings,  II.  P.  Wood.  W.  V.  King,  engaged  in  tick  investi- 
gations. 

T.  E.  IIolloway,  E.  R.  Barber,  engaged  in  sugar-cane  insect  investigations. 

J.  L.  Webb,  engaged  in  rice  insect  investigations. 

It.  A.  Cooley,  D.  L.  Van  Dine,  a.  F.  Conbadi,  C.  C.  Kbumbhaab,  collaborators. 

ii 


CIRCULAR  No.  170.  .],    i;tl 

United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 

BUREAU    OK    ENTOMOLOGY. 
L.  O.  HOWARD.   Entomologist  and  Chief  of  Bureau. 


THE   FONT,  TICK. 

i  i  rgaa  mintatus  Kocb.  t 

By  I'  i '   Bishopp, 
Entomological    I  isistant. 

1  \  1  Ki  'IH   (    lh  i\. 

Among  ilif  many  problems  which  confront  the  poultry  raiser  in 
the  southwestern  portion  of  the  United  States  none  surpasses  in  im- 
portance that  of  the  fowl  or  chicken  tick  (Argas  miniatm  Koch). 
The  statement  has  been  made  by  reliable  authorities  that  chicken  rais- 
ing in  certain  localities  in  southwestern  Texas  is  pract  ically  prohibited 
by  this  pest.  It  is  very  common  to  meet  people  in  many  sections  of 
thf  infested  area  who  have  disposed  of  their  poultry  mainly  on  ac- 
count of  tin-  Losses  caused  by  thi>  tick.  The  damage  occasioned  to 
the  man  who  is  raising  poultry  on  a  considerable  scale  is  very  -mall 
when  compared  with  the  losses  sustained  by  the  hundreds  of  indi- 
viduals in  town  and  country  who  keep  a  few  fowls  for  home  use. 
This  is  partly  due  to  the  Lack  of  attention  given  to  their  poultry  by 
those  who  do  not  attempt  to  go  into  the  industry  commercially. 

It  is  difficult  to  make  a  reliable  estimate  of  the  damage  chargeable 
to  the  fowl  tick,  as  much  of  the  Loss  is  indirect  or  complicated  with 
damages  produced  by  other  causes.    There  is  do  doubt,  however, 
the  total  Loss  duo  to  the  pest   amount.-  to  many  thousands  ol   dollars 
annually. 

HISTOBD    W  . 

A  tick  which  many  authorities  consider  identical  with  our  Ameri- 
can form  was  briefly  described  by  Oken  in  1818  from  specimens  col- 
lated in  Persia.  In  1844  a  German  investigator,  Koch,  described 
specimens  from  Demerara,  British  Guiana.  The  latter  were  un- 
questionably of  the  same  species  as  the  tick  which  occurs  in  the  Unite  1 

1  Submittal  by  permission  a-  a   minor  thesis  for  the  at   the 

Colorado  Agricultural  College. 

1 


Z  THE   FOWL   TICK. 

States.  Our  earliest  record  of  the  occurrence  of  the  fowl  tick  in 
this  country  was  published  in  187:2  by  Dr.  A.  S.  Packard.  This  was 
based  upon  a  collection  of  ticks  made  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Belfrage  in 
southwestern  Texas.  Dr.  L.  O.  Howard  '  states  that  Mr.  F.  G. 
Schaupp  sent  specimens  of  this  tick  to  the  Bureau  of  Entomology 
in  November,  18*4.  At  that  time  it  was  said  to  he  a  severe  pest  to 
chickens  in  Dimmit  County.  Tex.  Mr.  Albert  Turpe  stated  that 
the  tick  appeared  in  Kinney  County.  Tex.,  in  1892,  but  Mr.  Ferdi- 
nand Hoehr  averred  that  it  had  been  present  in  that  county  since 
1888.  According  to  a  statement  of  Prof.  C.  M.  "Weed  published  in 
the  Prairie  Farmer.  January  7.  1SSS.  Mr.  George  H.  Trook  sent  in 
specimens  of  this  tick  from  Maricopa  County.  Ariz.,  with  the  in- 
formation that  they  were  troubling  chickens  in  that  section.  Dur- 
ing December,  1894,  Mr.  C.  II.  T.  Townsend  found  the  pest  infesting 
chickens  at  San  Diego.  Tex.,  and  earlier  in  the  same  year  Mr.  E.  M. 
Ehrhorn  reported  it  as  attacking  chickens  and  turkeys  at  Merced, 
Cal. 

It  has  not  been  possible  to  secure  reliable  data  on  the  early  history 
of  the  pest  from  residents  in  the  infested  territory.  It  seems  jn'ob- 
able  that  it  has  existed  in  southwestern  Texas  for  many  years  and 
was  probably  introduced  from  Mexico  at  the  time  of  the  colonization 
of  the  State  b}'  the  Spanish  who  came  in  from  that  country.  Further- 
more, it  has  not  been  firmly  established  whether  the  species  has  been 
spi'eading  northward  in  Texas,  although  the  belief  that  a  gradual 
spread  has  taken  place  has  been  expressed  by  Prof.  E.  D.  Sanderson. 
It  is  certain,  however,  that  the  tick  is  becoming  more  generally  dis- 
seminated throughout  the  infested  territory  along  with  the  settling 
up  of  the  Southwest. 

DISTRIBUTION. 

The  chicken  tick,  "blue  bug."  "bloodsucker."  or  •"tampan."  as  it 
is  called  in  different  localities  or  regions,  is  a  widely  disseminated 
species.  In  the  United  States  it  is  infrequently  met  with  outside  of 
the  semiarid  and  arid  Southwest.  However,  it  has  been  reported  a 
number  of  times  from  Florida,  and  the  Marx  collection  in  the  United 
States  National  Museum  contain-  specimens  from  Iowa.  The  collec- 
tion of  the  Bureau  of  Entomology  contains  specimens  from  a  corre- 
spondent at  Fort  Lauderdale,  Fla..  where  the  tick  was  said  to  be 
injurious,  and  Mr.  G.  A.  Runner  found  the  specie-  in  numbers  at 
Key  "West,  Fla.  In  this  country,  as  has  been  indicated,  this  tide 
occurs  in  greatest  abundance  in  the  warm  portions  of  the  arid  and 
semiarid  region.  A  careful  study  of  its  normal  distribution  in  Texas 
shows  that  it  does  not  extend  far  eastward  into  the  region  where  the 
annual  rainfall  exceeds  30  inches.     This  makes  the  eastern  t'd^  of  its 

1  Insect  Life,  Div.  Km.,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  vol.  7,  p.  418,  1S95. 


I  II  I       I  n\\  I       IKK. 


range  coincide  closely  with  :i  line  dividing  one  of  our  life  zones, 
known  as  the  Lower  Austral,  into  the  Lower  Sonoran  and  Austrori- 
parian  Faunas. 

The  map  (fig.  I)  shows  approximately  the  normal  distribution  of 
tlif  species  in  the  Onited  States.  It  is  b  serious  pest  throughout  tin- 
greater  pari  of  western  Texas,  southern  New  Mexico  and  Arizona, 
southern  and  western  California,  and  on  the  great  plateau  of  north- 
central  Mexico  and  in  other  pari-  <>f  that  country.  In  many  other 
regions  of  the  n  orld  this  tick  is  of  important  1  nemj  of  poultry. 

It   appears  t"  occur  commonly   in   Persia,   [ndia,  southern   Russia, 


rowl    ti.i,  \tut)    Id   the    On  (The 

large   dots    Indl 
Entomology      The  Bmali  within  the 

I'm  -  Dal.) 

Roumania,  North  and  South  Africa,  various  parts  of  Australia,  the 
West  Indie-.  Mexico.  Panama,  British  Guiana,  and  Brazil. 

There  appears  to  be  no  reason  why  the  species  may  not  become 
established  in  all  of  our  Gulf  States,  as  it  occur-  in  other  countries 
which  have  very  similar  climate-.  However,  it  will  probably  never 
become  a  pe-t  of  continuous  importance  in  the  States  east  of  Texas 
on  account  of  their  humid  climate-.  There  is  little  danger  of  the 
establishment  of  the  species  in  the  more  northern  State-,  anil  the 
cases  where  it  is  occasionally  found  outside  <>f  the  area  of  normal 
occurrence  must   be  considered  as  temporary   infestations  brought 


4  THE    FOWL    TICK. 

about  by  the  introduction  of  the  tick  on  fowls  or  in  coops  from  in- 
fested regions.  If  favorable  conditions  exist  at  the  time  of  introduc- 
tion the  tick  may  breed  and  become  of  some  importance  as  a  pest  for 
a  short  period,  but  sooner  or  later  it  is  so  checked  as  to  be  of  little 
consequence  or  it  dies  out  completely. 

HOSTS. 

Although  the  chicken  is  the  host  most  frequently  attacked  by  this 
species,  a  considerable  number  of  other  domestic  fowls  may  be 
troubled  by  it,  and  turkeys,  geese,  ducks,  pigeons,  ostriches,  and 
canaries  have  each  been  found  to  suffer  from  its  attack.  During  this 
investigation  a  few  larva?  of  this  species  have  been  found  in  southern 
Texas  on  the  meadowlark  (J.  D.  Mitchell)  and  on  wild  turkey  (F.  C. 
Pratt).  It  has  also  been  reported  to  have  been  collected,  in  rare 
instances,  on  cattle  and  jack  rabbits,  and  experimentally  it  has  been 
induced  to  feed  upon  rats  and  mice.  In  Persia  this  tick,  which  is 
known  as  the  "  miana  bug,"  has  a  formidable  reputation.  It  is  said 
to  attack  man  with  avidity  in  that  country,  and  early  writers  report 
very  serious  effects  produced  by  its  bite.  In  some  cases  it  was  accused 
of  producing  death  within  20  hours.  These  statements  are  no  doubt 
overdrawn  and  other  species  of  a  closely  allied  genus  (Ornithodoros) 
may  have  been  confused  with  this  one.  Prof.  Lounsburv.  in  South 
Africa,  allowed  specimens  to  feed  upon  his  arm  and  experienced  no 
,-erious  results.  In  this  country  we  have  had  no  authentic  reports 
of  this  pest  attacking  man. 

HOW    THE    IKJXFKY    IS    DONE. 

As  a  result  of  the  presence  of  this  creature  loss  is  sustained  in 
several  wa}7s:  (1)  Through  death,  which  may  occur  among  poultry 
of  all  ages;  (2)  by  the  lowering  of  the  vitality  of  the  fowl  so  as  to 
make  it  readily  susceptible  to  disease;  (3)  by  greatly  reducing  e<yg 
production;  (4)  by  stunting  the  growth  of  chickens;  and  (5)  by 
disturbing  setting  hens. 

Death  may  be  produced  in  two  ways.  First,  by  gross  infestation, 
which  drains  the  fowl  of  blood  and  produces  intense  irritation  similar 
to  "  tick  worry."  caused  by  the  cattle  tick  and  other  species  among 
the  larger  domestic  animals.  This  difficulty  is  most  apparent  when 
chickens  are  placed  in  coops  which  have  not  been  occupied  for  several 
months.  The  ticks  are  extremely  hungry,  attack  the  fowls  in  great 
numbers,  and  soon  weaken  them  to  such  an  extent  that  they  are 
unable  to  get  on  the  roost.  When  the  chickens  are  thus  weakened 
they  more  readily  fall  victims  to  the  ticks.  In  some  cases  the  infested 
fowls  appear  paralyzed,  being  unable  to  use  the  legs.  The  wings 
droop,  the  feathers  have  a  milled  appearance,  the  appetite  is  lost,  and 
the  fowl  may  die  as  soon  as  two  or  three  days  after  the  first  attack. 


l  in.   i  OWL    IKK.  5 

In  Ices  severe  infestations,  when  the  fowls  are  \<r\  hearty,  they  may 
droop  for  some  time,  or,  if  removed  from  further  infestation,  quickly 
recover. 

ond,  death  may  be  produced  03  0  specific  disease  which  has  been 
proven  to  be  carried  l>\  the  chicken  tick.  This  malady,  which  is 
known  a-  spirochetosis,  has  been  proven  to  exist  in  many  countries 
where  the  chicken  tick  occurs,  namely,  in  India,  Egyptian  Sudan, 
Transcaucasia,  Roumania,  Tunis,  Algeria,  Rhodesia,  South  Australia, 
Brazil,  and  Martinique.  It  is  also  probable  that  the  disease  occurs 
in  other  islands  of  the  West  Indies.  A  disease  with  many  of  the 
symptoms  of  spirochetosis  occurs  among  chickens  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  United  State-  and  in  Mexico.  The  fowl  tick  has  been 
found  associated  with  this  disease.  These  points  strongly  indicate 
that  the  malady  in  question  i-  (lie  t  ick-tran-mitted  spirochetosis 
known  in  other  countries,  although  thi-  remains  to  be  definitely 
proved. 

It  i-  readily  -een  how  the  weakening  effect  of  the  blood  loss  pro- 
duced by  this  species  may  encourage  the  development  of  various  dis- 
eases.  It  ha-  been  shown  by  certain  authorities  that,  in  feeding,  this 
tick  introduces  a  substance  called  anticoagulin  into  the  wound 
produced  by  the  insertion  of  the  mouth  parts.  This  substance  and 
possibly  other  secretion-  seem  to  produce  acute  inflammation  at  the 
point  of  attack,  and" when  the  infestation  is  heavy  the  inflammation 
a1-  well  a-  the  loss  of  blood  is  an  important  factor  in  reducing  egg 
production. 

The  continued  drain  upon  the  Systems  of  chicken-  from  the  time 
they  are  hatched  until  full  grown  is  sufficient  to  accounl  for  the  re- 
duction in  the  size  of  poultry  raised  in  t ick-infe-ted  houses. 

The  irritation  produced  upon  setting  hen-  by  the  attack  of  the  tick 
in  it-  different  stages  frequently  interfere-  with  successful  hatching, 
in  some  instances  even  causing  the  hen-  to  desert  their  nests. 

Ill  K    HISTORY     Wl>    II  \IUT-. 

The  habits  of  the  fowl  tick  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  bed- 
bug (( "iiiK.r  lectulariua  L.  1.  It  is  almost  exclusively  a  night  feeder. 
Because  of  this  habh  of  engorging  on  fowls  during  the  night  and 
biding  in  the  daytime  many  people  do  not  suspect  the  presence  of 
the  tick  until  serious  loss  has  been  sustained. 

The  life  history  of  this  species  is  considerably  different  from  that 
of  the  ticks  ordinarily  observed  on  the  farm.  The  e<ri_r-  are  small, 
oval,  brownish  objects,  and  are  deposited  in  the  crack-  and  crevices 
about  the  roosting  place-  of  the  fowls.  During  warm  weather  they 
hatch  in  from  1 « '  to  1."  days.  Tn  the  winter  the  hatching  period  may 
exceed  three  month-.  The  minute  six-legged  seed  ticks  or  larva? 
which  emerge  from  the  eLri_r-  are  very  diff  appearance  from 


THE   FOWL   TICK. 


PIG.  2. — A  seed  tick,  the  larva  of 
tin'  fowl  tick,  as  seen  from  be- 
neath.  Greatly  enlarged.  (Orig- 
inal, i 


the  full-grown  ticks.  A  tick  in  this  stage,  as  seen  from  l>eneath, 
is  shown  in  figure  2.  The  seed  ticks  are  light  gray  in  color  ami  the 
mouth  parts  can  be  seen  projecting  in  front  of  the  body.  Follow- 
ing hatching  they  remain  quiet  on  the  eggs  for  a  few  days  and  then, 

after  nightfall,  begin  actively  running 
about  in  search  of  a  host.  When  a  suit- 
able host  is  found  they  bury  the  rather 
long  beak  in  the  skin  and  begin  sucking 
blood.  Their  favorite  places  of  attach- 
ment are  on  the  breast  and  thighs  and 
under  the  wings,  but  they  may  be  found 
on  nearly  all  parts  of  the  fowl.  After 
feeding  has  begun  they  soon  become 
dark  blue  in  color  and  the  body  gradu- 
ally become-  distended  and  rounded. 
The  fully  engorged  seed  ticks  are  about 
one-tenth  of  an  inch  in  length  and  are 
usually  of  a  dark-blue  or  purplish  color. 
When  fully  engorged  the  seed  ticks 
drop  from  the  host.  These  ticks  have 
acquired  the  habit  of  dropping  from  the 
host  during  the  night.  It  is  thus  possible  for  them  to  find  hiding 
places  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  chicken  roost.  The  time 
required  for  the  seed  ticks  to  engorge  has  been  found  to  range  from 
3}  to  10  days. 

In  from  4  to  9  days  after 
dropping  from  the  host  the 
engorged  seed  ticks  molt 
their  skins  and"  acquire  a 
fourth  pair  of  legs.  In  cool 
weather  this  transformation 
sometimes  requires  slightly 
over  a  month.  In  this  stage 
the  ticks  are  known  as 
nymphs  (fig.  3).  They  are 
slightly  larger  than  the  en- 
gorged seed  ticks  but  are 
very  much  flatter.  In  this 
and  all  subsequent  stages  the 
ticks  feed  almost  exclusively 
at  night  and  do  not  require 
more  than  from  a  few  minutes  to  an  hour  to  become  filled  with  blood. 
This  enables  them  to  partake  of  their  meal  and  thoroughly  secrete 
themselves  in  the  cracks  during  the  night  and  thus  escape  destruction 
by  the  host.     Before  becoming  mature  the  nymphs  feed  and  molt 


Fig.   •". — Nymph  of  the  fowl   tick,  as  seen  from 
below.     Greatly    enlarged.      (Original.) 


THE    I  iiu  i      i  M'K. 


' 


v-    > 


their  -kin-  twice  and  sometimes  three  times.     During  these  succes- 
live  « i  iii<  >ruii  i  if  1 1 1  ~  ami   tnol  tings   the  ticks   increase  considerably    in 
lize  i>ui   maintain  the  oval,  flattened 
form. 

At  the  last  moll  the  sexual  organs 
are  developed.     The  male-  i  fig.  I  i  are 
slightly  smaller  than  the  females  i  fig. 
5),  i he  former  measuring  about  one 
fifth  of  an  inch  ami  i be  latter  about 
one  fourth    of    an    inch    in    lengl h. 
Before    feeding  tin'  adults  arc 
yellowish  brown   color  and   arc   very 
thin.     After  partaking  of  M<><><|  they 
change  t<>  dark  blue  and  the  size  in- 
creases   considerably.  The   bodii 
the  male-  do  not  distend  as  much  as 
those  of  the   females.     In   the  adult 
stages,  as  also  in  the  nymphal  stages, 
the  mouth   parts  arc  located  on  the 
underside   of   the    front    end    of   the 
body.    They  are  not    usually    visible 
from  above.     The  body  is  quite  leath- 
ery and  exhibits  a  cellular  appearance  with  radiating  row-  of  rather 
smooth,  irregular  disks.     Mating  take-  place  immediately  alter  en- 


I 


■ 


:       !  i  i 

■   beneath.      N   te 

hind      itac     mouth] 
1  •     [lnal.  i 


Fig.  5.— Female  of  the  fowl  tick,  as  Been  from  :<h.>\.-  and  bem  ith.     (S 

genital  opening  just  behind  the  moothpai  glnal.) 

gorgement,  and  the  female-  begin  to  deposit  eggs  in  from  I  to  1"  days 
later.    Often  during  the  winter  the  female-  do  not  deposit   for  long 


8  THE   FOWL   TICK. 

periods  and  sometimes  require  a  second  engorgement  before  egg 
laving  begins. 

Unlike  many  species  of  ticks,  the  female  does  not  die  upon  com- 
pletion of  the  first  deposition,  but  again  fills  with  blood  and  produces 
another  batch  of  eggs.  This  process  of  feeding  followed  by  deposi- 
tion may  take  place  as  many  as  seven  times,  the  average  number 
being  about  three  or  four.  The  largest  number  of  eggs  which  we  have 
observed  to  be  deposited  by  a  single  female  is  874  and  the  average 
number  537.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  although  deposition  takes 
place  a  number  of  times,  the  total  number  of  eggs  produced  is  con- 
siderably smaller  than  the  number  deposited  by  many  of  our  common 
species  of  ticks.  For  example,  the  average  number  of  eggs  deposited 
by  the  cattle  tick  is  between  3.000  and  4.000.  As  has  been  stated,  the 
eggs  are  to  be  found  in  small  clusters  associated  with  all  stages  of 
the  tick  in  the  cracks  and  crevices  about  the  chicken  house. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  features  of  the  life  history  of  this 
creature  is  its  great  length  of  life  without  food.  The  seed  ticks  have 
been  found  to  live  for  a  period  of  5|  months.  Ticks  in  the  first 
nymphal  stage  may  live  for  slightly  more  than  9  months,  those  in  the 
second  nymphal  stage  for  about  15  months,  and  those  in  the  adult 
stage  for  nearly  -2i  years.  In  each  of  the>c  cases  the  specimens  ob- 
served were  kept  in  tight  boxes  and  no  food  was  given.  Other  ob- 
servers have  recorded  still  greater  longevity  among  adults  of  this 
species.  Some  of  them  state  that  the  tick  may  live  over  3  years  with- 
out food.  Dr.  C.  V.  Riley  has  published  a  statement  to  the  effect  that 
they  have  been  observed  to  live  some  5  years  without  food.  Our 
observation  upon  hundreds  of  individuals  indicate  that  there  must 
be  some  mistake  about  this  record. 

SUMMARY    OF    LIFE    CYCLE. 

The  eggs  of  this  tick  hatch  into  larvae  in  from  10  to  100  days.  The 
seed  ticks,  or  larva?,  attach  to  a  fowl  and  feed  from  3£  to  10  days, 
after  which  they  drop  from  the  host,  mainly  at  night,  and  secrete 
themselves  in  protected  places.  During  warm  weather  the  skins  of 
the  seed  ticks  are  molted  in  from  4  to  7  days  and  the  eight-legged 
nymphs  appear.  The  second  engorgement,  which  always  occurs  at 
night,  requires  only  a  few  bonis  at  most,  after  which  the  ticks  again 
secrete  themselves  and  molt  their  skins.  The  third  engorgement 
also  occurs  at  night,  as  do  all  subsequent  feedings.  Following  this 
engorgement  the  ticks  require  11  or  more  days  in  which  to  -bed 
their  skins.  About  six-sevenths  of  the  resulting  ticks  are  now 
mature.  These  are  ready  for  depositing  eggs  after  another  engorge- 
ment and  mating.  The  other  one-seventh  of  the  individuals  are 
still  nymphs  after  the  third  molt  and  must  of  necessity  feed  once 


I  III.   i  <<\\  i     i  I'  K.  9 

mors  and  moll  their  -  K 1 1 1 -  again  before  becoming  adults.  The  last 
oymphaJ  molt  in  this  case  has  been  found  t<>  require  9  or  more  days. 
The  adults  are  ready  for  engorgement  booh  after  1 1  * « -  last  molt,  and 
deposition  begins  after  mating  has  taken  place.  As  man]  as  seven 
engorgements  and  depositions  have  been  observed,  an  average  ot  537 
being  deposited  by  each  female  tick. 
The  number  of  generations  of  the  chicken  tick  annually  has  not 
hem  determined.  Ii  is  possible  for  the  tick  to  develop  through  all 
of  it-  Btages  ami  thus  complete  it-  life  cycle  in  about  K)  'lay-.  Nor- 
mally, however,  it   probably  takes  at    least   tw< nth-,  in   warm 

weather,  tor  this  complete  transformation.  Although  breeding  con- 
tinues through  tlif  winter  it  i-  greatly  retarded  during  the  coolest 
weather.  It  i-  c-timated  that  about  ti\e  generations  occur  annually 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  range  of  the  tick. 

\  \  n  l:  \i     \(.i  Mir-  O]    CON!  ROL. 

\-  has  been  pointed  out.  this  tick  doe-  not  thrive  in  portions  of  the 
Southern  State-  which  have  a  humid  climate.  This  fait,  together 
with  experimental  evidence,  indicate-  thai  the  species  is  largely  con- 
trolled by  excessive  moisture.  It  has  also  been  found  that  the  in- 
jury indicted  by  the  species  i-  greatest  during  hot.  dry  seasons.  It 
also  appear-  thai  low  temperature-  are  important  in  reducing  the 
rapidity  of  multiplication  and  other  activities,  and  that  where  very 
cold  winter-  occur  the  tick  doe-  not  exist. 

The  >peeie-  i-  singularly  free  from  natural  enemies.  The  little 
hlack  ant  (Monomorium  minutum)  ha-  been  -ecu  carrying  off  the 
eggs  and  larva?,  ami  some  of  the  house-inhabiting  spiders  probably 
destroy  limited  numbers  of  the  tick  in  the  later  stages.  Rats  and 
mice  are  also  concerned  in  it-  destruction  in  these  stages.  Chicken- 
eat  the  tick  with  avidity  when  they  have  access  to  it.  However,  it 
i-  greatly  protected  by  it-  habits  id'  night  feeding  and  of  crawling 
deeply  into  crack-  during  the  day.  These  habits  also  make  it  prac- 
tically exempt  from  destruction  by  insectivorous  birds. 

\  1  ROL   Ml  \-l  R]  -. 
Ml  Mines    1. 1      PREVENTING     INTESTATIOH. 

It  i-  much  easier  to  exclude  the  fowl  tick  from  premises  which  are 
not  already  infested  than  to  eradicate  it  after  an  infestation  ha-  he- 
come  established.     Hence  it   i-  advisable,  when  poultry  raising  i- 
beinir  started,  to  choose  a  site  some  distance  from  where  chicki 
have  roosted.     If  it  i-  possible  to  have  the  entire  poultry  farm  well 

separated   from  other  farm-  the  exclusion  of  the  tick   i-  made  more 
certain.     No    chicken-,    or    coop-    which    have    contained    chick, 
should  he  hroiicrht  near  the  site  of  the  new  yards.     This  demai 


10  THE   FOWL   TICK. 

the  use  of  the  incubator  for  starting  and  replenishing  the  flock. 
When  the  chicken  yards  are  built  in  proximity  to  infested  premises 
extreme  care  should  be  exercised  by  the  poultryman  to  exclude  his 
fowls  from  these  premises,  as  well  as  to  prevent  foreign  poultry 
from  entering  the  tick-free  yards.  Frequent  and  careful  inspections 
should  also  he  made  of  chicken  houses  to  be  certain  that  an  infesta- 
tion has  not  occurred  from  unguarded  sources.  If  it  is  desired  to 
bring  stock  in,  tins  should  be  kept  quarantined  at  some  distance  from 
the  chicken  yards  for  10  days.  The  temporary  coops  in  which  the 
poultry  is  kept  during  this  period  should  then  be  burned  or  dipped 
in  boiling  water  to  insure  the  destruction  of  all  ticks.  As  has  been 
stated  under  the  discussion  of  the  life  history  of  this  species,  the 
seed  ticks  may  remain  attached  to  the  host  for  a  period  of  10  day-, 
hence  the  recommendation  that  fowls  be  quarantined  for  that  period. 
At  the  expiration  of  the  10  days  all  of  the  ticks  will  have  dropped 
and  hidden  themselves  in  the  cracks  of  the  coop.  They  may  then  be 
destroyed  by  the  methods  mentioned.  "When  poultry  is  to  be  moved 
from  an  old  chicken  house  into  a  new  one  the  same  method  of  free- 
ing them  from  ticks  should  be  employed. 

METHODS  OF  COMBATING  INFESTATION. 

It  is  of  much  importance  to  determine  as  early  as  possible  whether 
or  not  the  fowl  tick  is  present  in  the  chicken  house.  Oftentimes  the 
small  blue  seed  ticks  are  observed  upon  the  skin  of  poultry  which  is 
dressed  for  consumption.  The  presence  of  these  little  parasites 
should  always  cause  the  owner  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  chicken 
coops.  Whenever  the  combs  and  gills  of  chickens  appear  pale  or 
signs  of  weakness  are  exhibited  the  cause  can  often  be  ascertained  by 
making  an  examination  of  the  roosting  places.  Frequently  severe 
losses  are  sustained  without  the  presence  of  the  pest  becoming  known 
to  the  poultryman.  It  is  therefore  necessary  to  make  frequent  care- 
ful examinations  of  the  cracks  in  the  vicinity  of  the  roosts  to  deter- 
mine if  an  infestation  exists.  When  ticks  are  found  it  is  important 
to  determine  how  extensive  is  the  infestation  and  where  the  majority 
of  the  ticks  are.  If  many  specimens  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the 
building  and  if  the  structure  is  of  little  value,  the  easiest  and  surest 
way  of  destroying  the  pest  is  to  burn  the  entire  chicken  house.  If, 
however,  the  ticks  are  not  to  be  found  in  all  parts  of  the  building  and 
if  it  is  of  too  much  value  to  be  destroyed,  other  methods  of  fighting 
the  tick  should  be  adopted.  In  the  first  place  all  unnecessary  boards 
and  boxes  which  form  protection  for  the  tick  should  be  removed. 
The  house  should  then  be  thoroughly  sprayed  with  pure  kerosene, 
crude  petroleum  (Beaumont  oil),  creosote,  or  some  of  the  standard 
tick  dips  used  at  a  strength  of  1  part  of  the  dip  to  3  parts  of  water. 
A  thorough  spraying  with  whitewash  containing  carbolic  acid  has 


I  hi     i  !'\\  L  TICK.  11 

:il-o  been  recommended.  Man)  other  destructive  agents  have  been 
employed  \\  nli  greater  or  less  success;  among  these  are  boiling  water, 
creosoted  products,  and  strong  kerosene  emulsion.  The  application 
•  it"  hot  tar  to  the  interior  of  infested  houses  has  given  some  relief  From 
the  pest  in  certain  instances.  The  tar  tends  to  lill  up  the  cracks  and 
to  seal  up  i  he  i  icks  already  in  them. 

When  chickens  are  found  to  be  suffering  From  the  attach  of  the 
tick  they  should  be  removed  immediately  From  the  house  in  which 
the  ticks  occur.  It  is  possible  i<>  destroy  many  of  the  larvae  which 
are  attached  to  the  bird,  but  as  a  rule  it  is  sufficient  to  -hut  the 
affected  chicken  up  and  allow  the  larvae  t"  he,, me  engorged  and  drop 
off.  In  case  chickens  become  very  weak  From  attack  before  the 
trouble  is  located  it  is  advisable  to  apply  kerosene  and  lard  to  the 
underside  of  the  wings  and  breasts  in  order  to  destroy  some  of  the 
larva?  already  attached.  Practically  all  of  the  seed  ticks  on  the 
chickens  may  be  destroyed  by  submerging  them  in  one  of  the  creosote 
dips,  mixed  with  water  in  the  proportion  of  l  to  1°.  Plunging  in- 
Fested    Fowls   into  gasoline  has  been    Found   to  destroy  every  tick 

attached   to  them,  but   this  treatment    is   too  harsh   on   the  host    to  be 

recommended.     In  general,  dipping  of  the  birds  is  inadvisable,  as 

that  treatment  i-  rather  severe,  ami  usually  it'  the  chickens  are  kepi 
From  further  infestations  they  soon  recover  From  the  attack. 

The  chicken  tick-  ha-  been  Found  to  be  one  of  the  mosl  difficult 
form-  of  animal  life  to  destroy.  It  i-  able  to  survive  applications 
which  would  kill  practically  any  Form  of  insect  life.  Insect  powder, 
kerosene  emulsions,  and  creosote  dip-  w^r<\  at  the  ordinary  strength 
and  Fumigation  with  such  poisonous  substances  a-  hydrocyanic-acid 
gas  are  entirely  inadequate  t"  destroy  tin  pest.  On  account  of  the 
ability  of  the  ticks  to  crawl  far  into  very  narrow  cracks  it  i-  prac- 
tically impossible  to  strike  all  of  them  with  any  substance  applied. 
This  oecessitates  the  repetition  of  the  treatment  at  intervals  of  a 
k  or  10  day-,  until  the  tick  i-  brought  well  under  control. 

Numerous  devices  have  been  used  or  advocated  tor  protecting 
chickens  from  tick  attack.  Among  the  contrn at  ces  For  isolating  the 
roosts  may  he  mentioned  wrapping  the  end-  of  the  poles  in  waste  or 
cotton  soaked  in  petroleum  and  supporting  the  roosts  by  means 
rods  running  through  cup-  filled  with  kerosene  or  other  deterrent 
material.     If  these  method-  are  employed  For  protecting  the  poultry 

Care  should  he  taken  to  keep  the  repellent   -uli-taiee-  Fresh  and  n«  t  to 

allow  the  dust  to  accumulate  on  the  top.     In  any  event   the  roosts 

should  he  smooth  and  free  from  hark  and  crack-  -<.  as  not  to  furnish 

hiding  place-  for  the  ticks.    They  should  al-o  he  arranged  so  a-  \<>  he 

ly  removed  to  permit  of  cleaning  the  house  ami  applying  petroleum 

or  creosote  around  the  end-  of  the  r<  •  -t-  ami  other  place-  where  the 

tick.-  are  most  apt  to  hide.    Gasoline  torches  have  been  used  in  de- 


12  THE   FOWL  TICK. 

stroying  ticks  with  some  success.  This  method  is  very  effective  in 
eradicating  the  pest  from  noninflammable  buildings  such  as  are  dis- 
cused  under  "tick-proof  houses.*'  .1  very  simple  and  inesapem 
method  of  protecting  fowls  from  the  tick  is  to  suspend  the  roosts  by 
means  of  small  wires  from  the  ceiling.  Wires  should  <d.so  be  run 
from  the  roost  to  the  side  of  the  building  in  order  to  prevent  the 
framework  from  touching  at  any  point.  This  arrangement  in  vari- 
ous forms  is  being  used  by  a  few  chicken  raisers  in  many  localities, 
and  in  most  cases  with  marked  success.  The  method  is  inexpensive, 
can  be  adapted  to  any  kind  of  chicken  house,  and  requires  only  suffi- 
cient attention  to  make  certain  that  the  roosts  and  roost  frames 
themselves  do  not  become  infested. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  longevity  of  this  species  is  so  great  that 
this  method  alone  can  not  be  relied  upon  to  kill  out  the  ticks  already 
in  the  building,  as  a  few  of  them  are  certain  to  become  engorged 
on  setting  or  laying  hens,  or  on  chickens  which  remain  on  the  ground, 
and  thus  keep  the  infestation  alive.  In  view  of  these  facts  it  is 
recommended  that  along  with  the  suspension  of  the  perches  on  wires, 
spraying  or  mopping  with  petroleum  or  creosote  be  practiced. 

For  the  most  part  conditions  throughout  southwestern  Texas  and 
other  parts  of  the  infested  territory  are  favorable  for  the  breeding 
of  this  pest.  Cedar  posts  which  are  covered  with  bark  and  filled 
with  deep  crevices  are  extensively  used  in  and  about  the  chicken 
houses.  In  some  cases  the  chickens  are  compelled  to  roost  in  trees 
and  about  barns  owing  to  the  erroneous  idea  that  by  this  method  they 
will  escape  the  chicken  ticks  which  are  usually  concentrated  in  the 
chicken  houses.  This  practice  only  serves  to  scatter  the  ticks  about 
the  premises  and  often  induces  infestations  of  the  barns,  trees,  and 
fences.  This  makes  it  possible  for  the  ticks  to  get  on  the  chickens  in 
any  place  about  the  yards  and  practically  prevents  successful  control. 
"Where  poultry  commonly  roost  in  trees  it  is  a  good  policy  to  remove 
all  of  the  loose  bark  from  the  trees  used  as  roosting  places  and  to  fill 
all  holes  and  crotches  in  them  with  tar. 

The  whitewashing  of  building-  and  general  cleanliness  maintained 
in  order  to  keep  the  chicken  tick  in  check  are  of  much  advantage  in 
warding  off'  some  of  the  diseases  to  which  poultry  is  subject.  Many 
of  the  control  methods  advocated  are  of  decided  importance  in  com- 
bating other  poultry  pests.  Applications  of  tickicides  to  chicken 
houses  are  sure  to  destroy  the  chicken  mite  (Dermanyssus  gaffincB 
Kedi),  which  has  a  habit,  very  similar  to  that  of  the  chicken  tick,  of 
hiding  in  the  cracks.  These  applications  also  aid  in  controlling  the 
chicken  flea  (Scercopsylla  (jail "■ naa  a  Westw.),  which  is  of  consider- 
able importance  in  certain  sections  of  thi>  country. 


Tin     i<>\\  i    TICK.  18 


Til   K    moot     Hot   si  s, 


When  it  is  planned  to  construct  u>-w  quarters  for  poultry  the  matter 
of  protection  from  this  pest  should  be  kept  in  mind.  It  is  possible  to 
build  chicken  houses  which  are  practically  tick  proof;  moreover,  the 
cost  <>f  building  ;ui<l  maintaining  such  structures  does  not  greatly 
exceed  the  outlay  necessary  t<>  construct  m  house  which  would  favor 
tick  'lc\ elopment. 

Rouses  can  be  built  of  a  variety  of  different  materials  bo  as  to 
make  it  very  easy  to  control  thi-  pest    It*  it  seems  desirable  to  build 

;i  frame  structure  ;ill  parts  should  be  made  of  smooth  | ber  and  care 

.should  be  taken  to  furnish  the  least  possible  number  of  hiding  places 
for  tin*  tick-.  Shingle  roof-  when  once  infested  are  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult  t<>  riil  of  ticks.  It  i>  therefore  advisable  to  make  the  roof  of  cor- 
rugated icon.  tin.  or  one  of  the  patent  roofings. 

The  all-metal  chicken  house  has  many  advantages  over  wooden  or 
partially  wooden  structures.  A  number  of  such  houses  built  mainly 
of  metal  are  in  use  in  southwestern  Texas  and  have  been  found  prac- 
tically tick  free,  although  no  precautions  were  taken  against  intro- 
ducing ticks  with  the  poultry  or  of  treating  the  inside  of  the  houses. 

In  constructing  a  poultry  house  the  individual  need-  largely  gov- 
ern the  style  and  size  of  the  structure.  The  cost  of  material-  required 
for  an  all-metal  house  11  feet  long,  1"  feel  wide,  and  7  feet  high  in 
front,  with  a  roof  sloping  one  way.  has  been  found  to  amount  to  about 
These  figures  are  based  on  the  use  of  three-fourths  inch  piping 
for  the  framework  and  painted  corrugated  iron  for  the  covering.  The 
difference  in  price  of  painted  and  galvanized  iron  is  considerable,  the 
former  being  about  $2.40  per  square  and  the  latter  about  $3.50.  The 
painted  iron  will  be  found  satisfactory  for  use  at  inland  points,  tts 
life  may  Ih>  increased  by  applying  an  occasional  coat  of  paint.  In  the 
construction  of  the  frame  it  i-  necessary  i"  have  the  piping  cut  to 
the  required  lengths  and  threaded.  The  large  number  of  -hurt  pieces 
of  piping  and  the  considerable  number  of  crosses,  elbows,  and  T's 
make  the  assembling  of  the  frame  rather  difficult.  Where  angle  iron 
is  available  it  is  more  desirable  and  costs  no  more.  The  corrugated 
iron  may  then  be  riveted  on  or  cleated  on  ;i-  would  he  done  if  the 
piping  frame  wen-  used.  Wooden  frames  may  Ih>  employed  if  the 
metal  is  too  expensive  or  difficult  to  obtain.  When  wooden  frame- 
are  used  it  is  best  to  put  the  framework  on  the  outside  of  the  -In  i 
ing.    These  corrugated  iron  houses  are  very  hot  during  the  day  and 

therefore  -hade,  other  than  that  afforded  by  the  hoii-e-.  should  l>e 
provided  in  the  chicken  yard-.  This  extreme  heat  and  the  lack  of 
protection  are  the  essential  factor-  in  keeping  the  chicken  tick  out. 
The  tick  will  never  become  a  serious  nuisance  in  an  all-metal  house 
if  protection,  such  as  loose  boards,  nests,  etc.,  i-.  not  given  it.     Never- 


UNIVERSITY  OF   FLORIDA 


14  the  fowl  T  3  1262  09216  5538 

theless  it  is  advisable  to  avoid  introducing  the  pest,  if  possible.  The 
complete  destruction  of  the  tick,  should  it  become  established  in  a 
metal  house,  is  easily  accomplished  by  removing  the  roost  and  burn- 
ing a  considerable  quantity  of  straw,  paper,  or  other  light  material 
within  the  house.  All  parts  of  the  house  should  be  thoroughly  heated 
or  reached  by  the  flame.  As  has  been  stated  the  roosts  should  always 
be  arranged  to  permit  of  easy  removal  for  cleaning  and  other  pur- 
poses. 

It  is  recommended  that  nests  be  located  apart  from  roosting  places. 
Tick-proof  nests  or  boxes  isolated  by  means  of  legs  set  in  dishes  tilled 
with  kerosene  are  desirable.  If.  however,  the  nests  are  made  of 
ordinary  boxes  and  not  allowed  to  come  in  contact  with  any  walls  it  is 
seldom  that  they  will  become  infested  to  any  degree  if  thoroughly 
cleaned  out  occasionally.  Should  these  boxes  become  infested  they 
can  be  destroyed  with  little  loss.  Metal  nests  may  be  made  with  a 
ring  of  small  iron  to  which  is  attached  a  sort  of  basket  made  of  wire 
netting.  These  nests  may  be  thoroughly  cleaned  by  burning  the 
straw  which  they  contain  and  holding  the  wire  part  over  the  blaze. 
In  the  infested  territory  brooders  and  pens  should  be  selected  or  con- 
structed with  a  view  to  lessening  hiding  places  which  may  be  occupied 
by  this  pest. 

That  the  fowl  tick  can  be  kept  completely  out  of  a  poultry  farm 
has  been  demonstrated  conclusively  by  a  few  progressive  poultrymen 
in  Texas,  but  this  is  the  reward  of  scrupulous  cleanliness  and  con- 
stant vigilance. 

Approved : 

James  Wilson, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 
Washington,  D.  C..  January  18,  1913. 


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